Friday, September 16, 2005

Circuit court judge and not officeholder gets to name substitute for prosecutor in Iraq

The Roanoke paper reports here: "The Virginia State Supreme Court ruled today that Floyd County Circuit Judge Ray Grubbs -- not Floyd County Commonwealth's Attorney Gordon Hannett -- has the authority to name Hannett's replacement while the prosecutor serves with the National Guard in Iraq."

The vote among the Supreme Court was split 4-3. The opinion in the Hannett case was written by Chief Justice Hassell, with a dissenting opinion by Justice Kinser, joined by Justices Koontz and Lemons.